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Ferrari Seriously Hints At Road-Going Hybrids

It’s hard to fathom that one day the orchestral symphony of a majestic Ferrari V12 or even V8 could be replaced with V6 coupled to a hybrid system.

If anything at all, times are changing and green racing is more than ever becoming a reality. Racing has always tried to become as efficient as possible since day one. After all, anyone can slap on a big engine, gorge it with copious amount of gasoline to make it go fast and far. However, the weight penalty eventually outweighs the short lived gains. Smaller is better, which leads to more efficiency, something Colin Chapmen proved with his Lotus cars.

The hints are here and if anything to follow, then Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa appears to suggest that hybrid technology is in its near future. Back in 2009, Ferrari dropped 6 hybrid patents, something that sent the press into a frenzy. Energetically rebutted, it seems Ferrari is finally admitting hybrid technology is ready for high performance commercial rollout.

Technically Speaking. It’s hard to imagine but a future in which high-performance Ferraris will sport six cylinder hybrids may happen sooner than later. According to Amedeo Felisa: "We will roll out new technology that is there first and foremost to introduce a green factor to our cars and ensure that we can keep our product where it is in terms of CO2,".

A Ferrari 599 GTB with a 2010 HY-KERS concept featured a low-capacity electric motor on the front when using electric power alone, with the rear one rated at 100bhp and 110lb ft. The battery pack cells have been intelligently spread over the floorpan in order to lower the center of gravity and enhance balance. Tentatively, a production version of it could be found on the next Enzo with a mid-mounted V12. Although the company is also toying with Ferrari six-cylinder engines, it would be hard to fathom them on Enzo types of cars. Such engines would more likely find their ways within the F1 world.

Europe Emission Stringent Rules. The reason why is clear. While Ferrari drivers usually enjoy deep pockets, Ferrari sales would do better, at least not in terms of pure sales but for its hallow effect if the cars were ever-so greener. Not only would this help further the technological advances of green technology for performance, it would also give Ferrari much bragging rights. After all, Porsche is finally talking about making the stunning 918 Hybrid and with numbers as theirs, Ferrari needs to step in visibly into the hybrid high-performance world.

Racing Greener. Ferrari has hinted in the past as to a hybrid-based successor for the Enzo rumored to be an 800 hp V12 sporting a 120 hp KERS based system. This is a direct result of Ferrari’s racing experience that translates to its road-going cars, namely that of the Formula 1 derived KERS system in its 599 HY-KERS prototype shown at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2010.

Ferrari is playing coy so far when it comes to if and when hybrid technology will make it in its road-going cars. It will have to happen one way or another and the best what to introduce it is to keep us guessing. As far as whether hybrid technology will make it on all Ferraris, Felisa did acknowledge that their hybrid systems had been designed to fit all of the company’s future architecture. He then hinted that if the company decided to go ahead, it would most likely be fitted as standard.

Felisa’s talks of a future where six-cylinder Ferraris would be the norm is not so far fetched. After all, turbo-charged V6 can certainly match raw horsepower from naturally aspirated V8 at a fraction of fuel consumption, while reducing weight and improving overall performance. And why not six cylinders in Ferraris? It’s not as if the then Dyno turned Ferrari hasn’t proved itself, after its fair share of success that won the hearts of man car connoisseurs. Felisa does warn that hybrid technology in Ferraris is far away in the future. This leads us to ask if it’s a question of technology advancement or preconceived notions. On this Felisa hints at the problem being more a perception one than anything else. All in all, good news, as long as Ferrari, Porsche and others enter the high-performance world of “green racing” with exotic forms of hybrids.

Ferrari is keen to introduce a green factor to its cars. After all, it has to meet the mandated European CO2 factors and if his hints are anything to base the future on, Ferrari’s hybrid system won’t be just about power, but saving energy and increasing overall performance.